Jones Disappointed By Draw At Tottenham

Phil Jones was pleased to keep a clean sheet in Sunday’s goalless draw at Tottenham Hotspur but feels his Manchester United team-mates could and perhaps should have won by a comfortable margin.

The Reds dominated the opening 45 minutes at White Hart Lane and went close to scoring through Radamel Falcao, Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata in what Louis van Gaal has described as “the best first-half performance” of the season.

United were less impressive after the break as the festive schedule took its toll, but still controlled enough possession to perhaps merit three Barclays Premier League points. Speaking to MUTV afterwards, Jones tried to assess why victory eluded the Reds in North London.

“We created numerous chances in the first half and perhaps should have been three or four nil up at half-time, but it wasn’t to be,” Jones said.

“In the second half they came out and pushed us to the end. We knew that would happen, but we stayed resilient and we kept a clean sheet.

"It's always nice to come away with a clean sheet but ultimately the lads are disappointed not to have taken all three points.

“I thought Falcao and Robin were terrific today. They held the ball up well, they linked up well but it just wasn’t our day in front of goal."

Sunday’s match kicked off just 43 hours after the Boxing Day clash with Newcastle United ended and the players were visibly tired towards full-time at Tottenham. Jones is not making any excuses, however, and is already looking ahead to facing Stoke City on New Year's Day.

“Yes I think fatigue is always going to kick in with two games in three days but it’s the same for every club in the Premier League,” the England international told MUTV. “You have to do it, we have done it, and now we look forward to the game against Stoke on Thursday.

“It will be a difficult battle down there we know what they are about and what it will be like. Every game in the Premier League is a physical test and it’s an even bigger test there.

"But we will prepare right and recover well, and hopefully we will get the three points against Stoke."